Legislators begin special session to finalize budget

HARTFORD — The state Legislature held a special vote Saturday, May 30, to go into special session Thursday, June 4, to complete work on Connecticut’s controversial 2010-11 biennial budget.

The House and Senate voted along party lines to enter into the special session, which begins a day after the end of this year’s regular session.

In a phone interview Tuesday, State Rep. John Rigby (R-63) said lawmakers will debate “any bill that has a fiscal impact,� including the unresolved state budget, which faces an $8.7 million deficit.

“There are four budgets on the table now,� Rigby said. “The governor revamped her initial budget and there are two more, so we have all these different proposals that we have to put into one nice package.�

Last week, state Sen. Andrew Roraback (R-30) said he is frustrated by the slow pace of work on the spending plan for the next two fiscal years. The fiscal year begins July 1.

“It’s not a mystery that we’re facing an $8-billion deficit,� Roraback said. “Someone likened it to swallowing a toad. Delaying it doesn’t make it any better.�

State Rep. Robera Willis (D-64) disagreed with Roraback’s assessment.

“This is not an easy thing to do, to close that $8.7-billion debt,� she said. “That’s why I never expected we’d be done on June 3. I think that was an unrealistic expectation.�

In Connecticut, lawmakers meet at the state capital for only a few months each year. In even years (such as 2008) there is a short session, where only new laws and fiscal emergencies are up for consideration. In odd years, the Legislature convenes from January to June and plans the budget for the two coming years.

Budget votes in both the House and Senate have fallen along party lines so far, with both sides acknowledging they are at a philosophical impasse.

Last week’s vote to reduce the current budget by $154 million was seen as inadequate by Republicans, who say the Democrats’ budget proposal contains an unacceptable increase in taxes. Democrats, meanwhile, have challenged the governor and fellow Republican legislators to come up with a balanced budget.

Roraback said he believes the differences between Democrats and Republicans may be too great to expect quick action.

“I think you have to recognize that this is an unprecedented financial crisis,� he said.

Amid the doom-and-gloom pronouncements about cuts that must be made, Willis said there are some areas that are looking sunny.

“The comptroller announced that for the first time, in April, we saw a 1-percent increase in income tax revenue. It had been declining since the beginning of the calendar year,� she said.

Also, a plan to aid dairy farmers has escaped cuts thus far. Willis said Connecticut dairy farmers are in “horrific financial states� and that seven have closed since January 2009.

“And it looks like there’s going to be funding for the dairy farms, which we’ve been working on all session,� she said. “With all the things that have been happening, that’s been a bright light. It’s the best news I’ve heard.�

Jennifer L. Kronholm contributed to this story.